Back pack



Oct 11, 1932. E. H. NICHOLS BACK PACK Filed April 16. 1929 4Sheets-Sheet l m ma w; MM m w F cU w A TTOR y Oct. 11, 1932. E. H.NICHOLS ssmsa BACK PACK Filed April 16. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1A VENTORErwin H N/c/rols.

BY M

ATTOREY Oct. H, 1932. E. H. NICHOLS BACK PACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledApril.16. 1929 INVENTOR Erwin H Niche);

Och 1932- E. H. NICHOLS 1,882,08

BACK PACK Filed April 16. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E-FE- 5 /37 g I IllIIlEllill"\llllIIIHWINIIIIIIIIIIINRIH 11v VENTO firwin H Nichols.

BY w g y Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE EIRWIN H.NICHOLS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO IRVING AIR CHUTE COMPANY,INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION BACK PACK Application filedApril 16, 1929. Serial No. 355,550.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) pack which may be more conveniently and comfortably worn thanthe packs heretofore used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of back typeparachute pack having a metallic pack frame incorporated therein whichis bent to fit the approximate contour of the back of the aviator fromthe seat to 2a the top of the shoulders. Other objects have reference todetails of construction which further the foregoing objects consistingin the provision in a pack of generally semi-rigid construction of awire-like metallic frame which while of a substantially rigidconstruction has a resiliency which assists in speeding the opening ofthe parachute by quickly throwing its container open when released.

A pack of this type has an advantage over packs as heretofore used inthat the aviator has more accessibility in moving about the plane,especially desired by observers and machine gun operators. 7

A pack of the type hereinafter to be described has the added advantageof resting upon the seat and thus relieves the wearer of its weight.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig.l is a view in perspective of the pack embodying my invention shownstrapped to the back of an aviator.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to- Fig. 1 showing the pack free of the aviatorand in the position the pack occupies in the aviators seat.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pack con tainer in an inverted openedcondition with parachute detached.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pack with the container fully closed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. v

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the metallic frame embodying my invention,showing in full lines the position the frame occupies in the packcovering when the parachute has been released; the dotted line positionindicating the flexed and tensioned packed position.

Fig. 8 is a front plan showing the cross bracing of the frame. Corresonding parts are designated by correspon ing numerals throughout thedrawings.

The parachute pack of the present inven-. tion is designed to carry aparachute designated by numeral 10 ,which comprises the' main sustainingcanopy 11 and its spring opened auxiliary or pilot parachute 12,connected by shroud lines 13 to straps 14 extending into the pack fromthe body harness on the person of the aviator. These provisions are ofthe standard well-known type, being 7;, shown in United States Patent#1,340,423,' and require no further explanation.

The packs heretofore used were arranged to be carried on the seat, lap,'and in certain instances on the chest and back of the wearer. Thesepacks gave very little freedom of movement to the wearer and wereotherwise awkward and cumbersome to wear.

The present invention provides a pack which from the manner in which itis worn, is called a form-fitting back type pack and is so constructedas to fit the approximate contour of the aviators body in asubstantially rigid condition from the shoulder blades to the hips. Tothis end the'packincludes a metallic frame which is co-extensive withthe pack and shaped to conform to the wearers body in such manner thatit is under tension and partially encircles the body 'when the pack isin packed condition, whereupon the pack being released the frame tendsto return to normal shape and in so doing the pack container flaps arethrown quickly back and the pilot and sustaining chutes are forcibly andautomatically thrown out and into the air st "am to quicken the time ofopening. Providid with a pack such as has been described, an aviator isenabled to climb into and out of the cockpit of an airplane withoutassistance and without extra effort, and to turn or stoop about in thecockpit with considerableease.

The parachute ack container 15 is made of any suitable exible. materialwhich is preferably waterproofed and comprises a rectan lar portion 16which constitutes the bac of the pack, end flaps 17 and 18, and sideflaps 19 and which fold over the back portion 16 to retain the foldedparachute. Each of the end flaps 17 and 18 and the side flaps 19 and 20have elastics 21 extending between eyelets 22, 23, 24 and 25 in a mannerfamiliar to the art. The end flaps 17 and 18 are provided with cones 26to receive grommets'27 on the side flaps 19 and'20 when the flaps arefolded over the folded parachute. A rip cord 28 having a wire end passedthru openin sin the cones 26 extends to a convenient point on the bodyharness where a ring 29 is provided to enable the aviator to release theparachute in the usual manner. The cones leave the grommets readily whenthe rip cord, holding the same, is withdrawn. This type of connection iscomparatively insecure and for this reason, a narrow guard flap 30 isprovided on the side flap 19 which is arranged to be folded over tocover the cones and grommets, and held by snap fastener 31- engaging onstuds 32 to prevent accidental disengagement of the rip cord wire fromthe cones 26. The foregoing provisions for the most part, being shown inU. S. Patent #1,404,983, are in general use and are referred to merelyas incidental to the details to be referred to hereinafter.

The straps 14 of the body harness extend into the pack thru suitablenotches in the sides of the flap 17. The shroud lines 13 of the mainparachute extend from the straps 14 and are laid back and forthwithlooped ends tucked in pockets 33 provided in each of two pieces ofwebbing secured at intervals onto the rectangular portion 16 leavingslacked looped portions to serve as pockets. The shroud lines whenpacked in this manner are held securely against entanglement and thatthe remaining operations of foldiiig and packing the parachute are nothampered by loose shroud lines. The shroud lines are nevertheless veryeasily disengaged upon opening of the pack incidental to the pull of thedistended pilot parachute. This arrangement further insures againstentangling of the shroud lines either through careless packing or whenthe parachute'is released. It is broadly shown in U. S. Patent#1,554,192.

The folded main parachute 11 is packed on top of the shroud lines 13 andthe lines from the pilot parachute 12 are laid over it. A partition isprovided between the main parachute and the pilot parachute by twotongues 34 upon the flaps 19 and 20 arranged to overlap each other attheir free ends and overlie the main parachute 10 as indicated in Figs.5 and 6. The pilot parachute, which usually has spring ribs to openautomatically upon the release of the parachute is thus kept fromentanglement either with the shroud lines or with the main parachute.The moment the flaps of the pack are released, by the pull exerted uponthe rip cord, they are opened by spring tension of the pack frame and bytheir elastics 21, and the pilot parachute is then free to spring open.The tongues 34 being secured to the inner sides ofthe flaps 19 and 20are moved out of the way to permit free exit of the main parachute fromthe pack.

The rectangular portion 16 of the pack container is reinforced with awire-like frame 35 of a general rectangular form which defines the edgesof the pack and comprises essentially side pieces 36 and end pieces 37.These pieces are of spring brass or the like to prevent rusting and arebent to fit the approximate contour of the back of the wearer from thehips to the top of the shoulder, as will be noted by observing Fig. 1.The frame is reinforced by diagonal wire corner strips designated bynumeral 38 shown in Fig. 8. An intermediate transverse wire strip issecured at each-end to each of the side pieces 36 by divergent wirestrips 50. All of these are bent to conform to the curvature of the bodyand fastened to the main frame work by brazing, welding, or othersuitable means. The side pieces 36 have the lower ends thereof onlyslightly curved, but intermediate their ends they are bowed rearwardlywith a forwardly facing concavity at their upper ends which receive theshoulder blades of the wearer. Of course these frame members aredifferently shaped if the pack is adapted for form fitting upon anyother part of the body than the back. The framework is furtherstrengthened by the addition of longitudinally ext-ending reinforcingstrips 39 and 40 which are secured to the main framework and reinforcingstrips 38 and 51 in the manner heretofore described. Reinforcing stripsof spring steel are provided transversely on the frame construction, oneof the strips being placed at a point adjacent the hips, as at 41 inFig.8, another strip 42 being located at the small of the back, and athird designated by numeral 43 being located just under the shoulderblades. These strips are preferably rivetcd to the framework after beingbent to conform to the shape of the frame structure 35 and the frame issewed in a pocket between the layers of material forming the rectangularportions 16, generally after the manner shown in U. S. Patent#1,403,983.

When the container with frame inserted is in a released condition, theframe assumes the normal position indicated in full lines in Fig. 7However, when the canvas flaps at the sides and ends of the packarebrought together over the fabric of the parachute, the spring pieces 41,42 and 43 and the wires of the frame are forced and flexed outwardassuming a flatter form as shown in dotted line in Fig. 7 and open theframe so that it snugly fits the back of the aviator, the spring piecesbeing placed under tension in so doing.

Upon the pull of the rip cord, the container opens, and the frame isforced back by reason of its resilient spring action into its formercurved position which functions to quickly open the container and throwthe parachute out to speed its opening.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the constructionof a pack as set forth will enable the main and pilot parachutes tobecome deployed and open quicker than is the case with parachutes instandard use. Furthermore, a pack such as described permits of its beingcomfortably worn upon the back of the aviator, and gives greater freedomto the wearer without liability of accidental opening.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention intoelfect, it is to beunderstood that varlatlons and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desireto avail myself of variations and modifications as come within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and'desireto'secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a parachute pack, a container,supporting harness straps extending from said container, a parachutepacked in said container having shroud lines connected to said straps,and frame means for said container shaped to approximately fit thecontour of the wearers back. v

2. In a parachute pack, a container adapted to approximately cover theback of the wearer, supporting harness straps extending from the cornersof said container, a parachute packed in said container having shroudlines connected to said straps and a reinforced frame shaped to conformto the back of the wearer and disposed within the back portion of saidcontainer.

3. The combination with a parachute pack adapted to be worn upon theback of an aviator, of a flexible frame conforming to the shape ofthelwearers back secured to and de- Y fining a wall of said pack.

4. The combination with a parachute pack adapted'to be worn upon the,back of. an aviator, of a flexible reinforcing frame conforming to theshape of the wearers back and forming a part of the body portion of saidpack, said frame being co-extensive with and defining the shape of saidbody portion.

5. The combination with a parachute pack adapted to be worn upon theback of an aviator, of a semi-rigid frame secured to the back portion ofsaid pack and conforming to the longitudinal and transverse curvature ofthe wearers back when said pack is in packed condition.

6. The combination with a parachute pack adapted to be worn upon theback of an aviator, of a semi-rigid pack shaping frame shaped to conformto the wearers back, and being relatively flexible laterally.

7. The combination with a parachute container comprising a flexible backportion having side flaps and end flaps, of a'laterally curved flexibleframe co-extensive with and forming a part and defining the shape ofsaid back portion.

8. In combination, a back type parachute pack compr1s1ng, a mainparachute, and a container having a supporting frame, said framecomprising a plurality of flexible elements transversely disposed onsaid frame and adapted to be flexed so that the sides of sald frameconform to the body of the wearer, said elements being under tensionwhen said parachute pack is in a packed cond1t1on.

9. In combination with a back type parachute, pack comprising a mainparachute, and a pilot parachute, of a container having a form flt-tmgframe, said frame comprising a plurallty of relatively attached formdefinlng members secured to said container, and body conforming springmeans attached to and transversely disposed on said frame and undertension when the container is packed to flex the side of said frameoutwardly to assist in releasing the parachute when the container isopened.

1Q. As an article of manufacture a unitary flexlble parachute pack wireframe shaped tg slubstantiallybfit1 the contour of the part 0 e wearerso to which th be attached. y i3 pack 15 to 11. A parachute packcomprising a flexible container having a body portion upon which thepack is built, a unitary flexible wire frame co-extensive with the bodyportion shaped to substantially fit the contour of the part of thewearers body to which the pack is to be attached, a. parachute, andmeans for releasably packing the parachute on the body portion of thecontainer and in the container in said body conforming relation with theframe;

12. In a parachute pack the combination of a container including a bodyportion of flexible material flaps secured thereto, cured to the bodyportion of the container shaped to substantially fit the contour of thepart of the wearers bodyto which the pack is to be attached for holdingthe body portion of the container in body conforming relation upon anaviator, said frame being co-extensive with the finished pack, aparachute canopy, harness, means connecting the harness with the pack,and means to releasably hold the pack folded about the parachute canopywith the latter packed on the body of the container fitting relation.

13. In a parachute pack the combination of a container including a bodyportion of flexible material having flexible marginal flaps securedthereto, a resilient form-fitting frame secured to the body portion ofthe container for holding the body portion of the container in bodyconforming relation upon an aviator, said frame being co-extensive withthe shape of the closed pack, a parachute canopy, harness,

means connecting the harness with the pack, operating means toreleasably hold the flaps folded about the parachute canopy with thelatter packed on the body portion of the container in a compactform-fitting relation, said operating means holding the flaps so thatthe wire frame is flexed and under tension when the pack is closed andin a body conforming relation.

14. A parachute back pack of semi-rigid construction, shallow in depth,and shaped to the contour of the back of the wearer, having a packshaping frame substantially coextensive with the marginal outline of'the pack constructed of yieldable shape retaining material.

15. A parachute pack of semi-rigid construction, shallow in depth andshaped to fit the contour of the part of the body on which the pack isworn, said pack having a wire pack shaping frame co-extensive with theoutline of the pack andshaped to inherently hold the body fitting wallof the closed back exteriorly in very close shape of the contour of thatpart of the body of the wearer upon which the pack is to be worn.

16. A free jump parachute pack of semirigid construction,

shallow in depth and shaped to the contour of the back of the wearerhaving manually operated releasing means, and a pack shaping framesubstantially co-extensive with the marginal outline of the pack andconstructed of shape retaining material formed to hold the pack in formfitting contour.

17. A parachute pack of the free jump type comprising a flexiblecontainer, a parachute for the flexible container, fastening means tohold the container closed, operating means having flexible marginal areslhent frame se body against which the in a compact form-' lient wallshaped to releasing said fastening means and opening the container, anda yieldable shapin frame of wire shaped in a body fitting relation andholdmg the closed pack and an exterior wall of the container in aform-fitting contour.

18. In a parachute pack the combination of a-parachute, a container forhousing the parachute therein including a wall shaped to fit the contourof that part of the wearers pack is to abut and of material having aninherent ability to maintain the wall in such shape when the parachuteis packed in the container, flexible closure means as a part of saidcontainer, and

fastening means for the closure means to re-' leasably maintain thecontainer shut with the parachute packed therein.

19. In a parachute pack the combination of a parachute, a container forpacking the parachute therein including a yieldable resiform-fit thecontour of that part of the wearers back to which the pack is to beabuttcd against, flexible closure means associated with said wall asapart of the container, and fastening meanstfor the closure means toreleasably maintain the container shut with the parachute packedtherein, said wall being under tension and in said form-fitting shapewhen the pack container is closed with the parachute packed therein, forquickly opening the closure means and imparting an ejecting action tothe parachute upon release of the fastening means.

20. As an article of manufacture a unitary flexible parachute pack wireframe shaped to substantially fit the contour of that part of thewearers body against which the pack is adapted to abut, said framehaving transverse resilient flexibility to inherently assume a curved"body form-fitting shape.

21. In a parachute pack the combination of a parachute, a container forpacking the parachute therein having a flexible wire frame as a partthereof shaped to substantially fit the contour of that part of thewearers body against which the pack is to rest, said wire frame havingtransverse resilient flexibility to inherently assume a curved bodyformfitting shape, and fastening means to releasably maintain thecontainer shut with the parachute packed therein upon said wire frame,the latter being under tension and in said form-fitting shape when thepacked container is closed with the parachute packed therein, forquickly opening the container and imparting an ejectingaction to theparachute upon release of the fastening means.

In testimony whereof I aflix m'y 1 ature. ERWIN H. NicH o Ls. v

